Missing woman's stepson on fraud charge

A 25-year-old Perth man has been remanded in custody after appearing in court on a
fraud charge as police continue to investigate the disappearance of his stepmother.
Brent Donald Mack, from the Perth inner-city suburb of Mt Hawthorn, appeared in the
Perth Magistrates Court on Friday charged with gaining benefit by fraud.
The court was told Mack had taken $162,000 from his stepmother's bank account after
forging her name on cheques between October 2009 and April 2010.
His lawyer, however, said his stepmother was still alive and had approved the money
transfers.
The court was told Mack was a person of interest in his stepmother's disappearance
and, after being deemed a flight risk, he was refused bail.
Police hold grave fears for Malaysian woman Ah Bee Mack, also known as Pauline Mack,
who was last seen two years ago, in September 2008.
The 56-year-old was reported missing by a relative only two weeks ago.
On Friday, police continued to search the house where she and her stepson lived.